Suceava

Bucovina city and former Moldavian capital, used as a base for painted monastery routes

Suceava was the capital of Transsylvania in the late Middle Ages. Today it is a pleasant city and worth a visit for its sights and museums, especially the Princely Fortress. A possible tourist route comprises the Princely Fortress of Suceava, the Sf. Ioan Monastery in Zamca as well as the medieval churches of Saint Dumitru, Holy Ressurection and Mirui. A point of interest is also the National Museum of Bucovina with its valuable historic and archaeologic exhibits.

But above all Suceava is interesting as it is an excellent starting point for tours to the mountains around. In the region around Suceava the most interesting sights are probably the painted monasteries. The Voronet Monastery dates from 1488 and is on the UNESCO list. Other monasteries are close by: Humor (1530), Moldovita (1532), Sucevita (1584), the Dragomirna Monastery ( 1609) and the Putna Monastery (1469) built by great Voivode Stefan cel Mare. Other monasteries of a great historic value are situated in the Stânisoara area: Slatina, Râsca and Pobota Monasteries.

Other interseting towns include: Câmpulung Moldovenesc, the so called Helvetian pearl of Bucovina founded by ruler Alexandru cel Bun, and the municipality of Radauti, well known for its fair.

Guide

Getting There

Suceava Stefan cel Mare International Airport has flights to Bucharest and several Western European cities. The airport is 15 km east of the city centre.

By rail, Suceava has two stations: Suceava (the main station, also called Burdujeni) and Suceava Nord — trains from Bucharest (5–6 hours) stop at the main station. By bus, coaches from Bucharest, Cluj, Iași, and other Romanian cities use the central bus terminal. There are also international coach connections to Germany, Austria, and Italy, serving Romania's large diaspora communities.

Guide

Things to Do

The main reason to come to Suceava is the Medieval Seat Fortress on its hill above the city — the ruined stronghold of the Moldavian princes, including Stefan cel Mare (Stephen the Great), who ruled from here in the 15th century. Down in the town, the Bukovina Museum covers the history and archaeology of the region. The Armenian Monastery of Zamca on the western edge of town dates from the 15th century and is one of Romania's oldest Armenian religious sites.

Suceava is primarily used as a base for visiting the painted monasteries of Bucovina — Voroneț, Humor, Moldovița, Sucevița — within a 50 km radius. These are the real reason most travellers stop here, and day trips are easily arranged.